Alhama de Granada, Thermal Baths and Natural and Cultural Heritage under the sun of Andalusia.
Al-Hamman It is the origin of the name of this Andalusian town, it means "Geysers" in Arabic. Are located there precisely Arab thermal baths built on the ancient Roman baths and together with the cultural heritage of the city and Natural Park Sierras de Tejada, Almijarra y Alhama with its known Tajos, They make it so valuable to the city as the area where it is located.
Alhama de Granada it is 80 km of expressways A7 Málaga by along the coast to Velez Malaga, the A-356 to the encounter with the A-402 in which we continue to the city itself. from Granada, a 60 km for the A-92G first and then continuing along the A-402.
The road and we anticipate natural beauty and heritage with which we find upon arrival and worth slow down or stop at a lookout to admire the stunning scenery.
Like all white Andalusian village, the Alhama boasts its characteristics streets, low buildings of no more than two or three levels, the whiteness of its walls and red roofs. The implementation of the city in the irregularity of the terrain and the proximity of the river Alhama, further accentuate the beauty of the town and its landscape. Also they enrich the view houses that are cut on the edge of the pit.
The Alhama de Granda is listed as a Historic Heritage in the Andalusian.
Alhama in History
Some archaeological remains found in the region indicate that it would have been inhabited in prehistoric times by people seeking to benefit from the waters of the river Alhama. It was also Roman site, who settled there and built their hot springs town that would later be exploited and rebuilt by the Arabs. The Roman settlement lies in the north where the Roman bridge is. Pits of rivers also serve as defense of the city which was then completed with wall. There in the ninth century many people settle and begins to take shape the modern city. With the Moorish domination the region and the city reached an important evolution, its economy grows and urbanization enriches. After the War of Granada and after the Christian conquest 1482, the city is also transformed, churches are built on existing mosques, new administrative buildings and urban modifications are made as open spaces. Alhama suffered the consequences of the earthquake 1884, which of course affect many of its buildings.
Preservation of Architectural and Environmental Alhama is now an ongoing task that makes the city an important and valuable center of historical and tourist interest.
Alhama de Granda, Monuments and heritage buildings:
Once in the Alhama is good being drawn into the stillness of the streets and make the walk freely, watching full every corner, each square, every landscape that the city offers.
There are proposed routes that are valuable to take into account to not miss anything, but of course, without losing the tranquility and calm, allowing us to enjoy even more our tour.
Starting the trip from the city center:
– Joint Conventual and Church of Our Lady of Carmen: It is close to the square of the Constitution, Walk through the Montes de Jovellar, where the tourist office is located. Joint dated between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, born as a Carmelite convent, later without the presence of religious, the cloister becomes public. Renaissance and Baroque elements are distinguished in this set, inside and altars also elements of rococo.
Leaving behind the set of the Church of Our Lady of Carmen and before taking Llana street or we choose to reach the Church of the Incarnation or the Castle, worth stopping to observe the scenery along the promenade along the Tagus river. The views are truly amazing.
– Castle: is a building located in the town. It built on what was once the Arab castle and modified in the early twentieth century.
– Greater Church of the Incarnation: Its location in the highest part of the city allows us to distinguish quickly. This built on what had been the largest mosque and its implementation is resorted to late Gothic and Renaissance. Built in stone, single ship is very rich and imposing volumetrically. The tower is the sixteenth century, subsequently enlarged and modified. the chorus is also added under an interesting vault. In the eighteenth century a new sacristy that joins the church on the street creating a lowpass a barrel vault corrido is added.
– House of the Inquisition: It is located adjacent to the Church of the Incarnation. Rebuilt in the twentieth century. It has an interesting facade with bas-reliefs, Gothic style on two levels.
– Jail building: in this building of the seventeenth century, It works today Interpretation Center, knowledge, dissemination of the history and culture of Alhama de Granada.
– Hospital de la Reina: Built in the late fifteenth century in origin with a central courtyard and then expanded.
– dungeons: thirteenth century, carved directly into the rock and Arabic times in order to fulfill the function of silos and then also used as dwellings.
– Arab baths – Spas: The building of the thermal baths is located within the Hotel, It can be dated between centuries XIII and XIV. It was built on the remains of Roman baths. It has typical elements of Almohad art and Nazari. They were of great importance in his time, visited and enjoyed by important personalities.
Nowadays, winter or summer, many visitors come to the spa for bathing and benefit from the thermal properties of the river Alhama.
Roman bridge: Neighbor to the baths found this beautiful bridge constituted by an arch points, witness the Roman step Alhama.
Conventual Church of the Immaculate - San Diego: in the southern part of the city, construction of the seventeenth century, It was Franciscan convent
Other buildings and monuments we find in the course of Alhama de Granada:
Caño Wamba
Pósito
Ermita de los Remedios
Houses emblazoned in street Llana
Square Prisoners
ecclesiastical museum
Alhama is a town that maintains its traditions, taking place at different times of year various festivals.
– 2 February, Candlemas. The whole city is illuminated by the fires that the same population deals with on and around which the neighbors sing traditional songs. typical hammocks are built in the vicinity of each fire or candela.
– Carnival is celebrated Ash Wednesday prior to the week and has been declared a Festival of Tourist interest in Andalusia. During this period parades take place, corners, and it is possible to appreciate the typical masks Alhama neighbors use as part of their costumes to hide their faces.
– Piñata Sunday and Monday hangover, then they celebrate Ash Wednesday.
– On Friday pains, Friday prior to the dominance of Ramos, in which the procession of the patron saint of Alhama is done, Our Lady of Sorrows, from the Church of Carmen, where the image.
– Wine Pilgrimage, It is carried out 15 of August. On that date you can taste Alhama own products where typical wines include.
– Music Festival, It is carried out also in August, since more than 40 years
– September Fair. Typical summer fair.
Alhama is a break for a day and which we take the best impressions. People are very friendly and hospitable and both the city and its surroundings have an interesting natural and cultural heritage that make us feel that our visit was worthwhile. Recommended both summer and winter, and even better if our visit coincides with one of the festivities. As usual, each trip, each visit, we brought with us a little place through what we have learned in the course.